Rolled paper dispenser



June 17, 1958 H. L. LAWALIN ROLLED PAPER DISPENSER Harold L. Lawn/in INVEN TOR. 48 aofia Filed Oct. 6, 1955 -I|IIIIII1lllllllilaIIIlVIIIIIIiIIII rad o ROLLED PAPER DISPENSER Harold L. Lawalin, Indianapolis, Ind. Application October 6, 1955, Serial No. 538,966

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-39) The present invention relates to box-type storing and dispensing cabinets, particularly those which are used to handily hold and progressively dispense tearable sheets of paper from rolled paper, for example, paper towels sold in rolled form, toilet tissue paper and the like.

To simplify the instant presentation of the subject matter of the invention, consider the concept as having to do with a sheet metal box, one which is of a so-called magazine type, that is, is intended to contain and store more than a single roll of toilet paper. The idea of the invention is to provide not only space for at least two rolls of paper, but, what is more important, to utilize a retractible and downwardly folding partition or shelf on the interior which is suflicient to divide the space into upper and lower compartments, one for the reserve roll and the other one, that is the lower one, for the roll which is currently in use.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, a relatively narrow shelf is hinged in the intermediate portion of the container-forming box and is normally supported in a generally horizontal position in a manner to properly shelve the upper roll in the upper compartment. The space in the box therebelow, constituting the lower compartment, is characterized by a trigger latch which engages the shelf releasably and holds it in its up position, the trigger latch being carried by a trip which is swingably mounted in the lower compartment, said trip being spring-biased so that it normally maintains the trigger latch in its shelf-supporting position but allows the same to swing from beneath the shelf and to drop the shelf when the lower roll is depleted and the customary cardboard spool or hub thereof is removed from the lower compartment.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a view in section and elevation of a magazine-type box or toilet roll holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view primarily in section with the paper in elevation showing the details;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation and with the rolls'of paper omitted; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the particular details of the invention.

Referring now to drawings, the container is described here as a magazine-type box and is denoted by the numeral 6 and is of appropriate material and is constructed to accommodate upper andlower rolls of toilet tissue denoted by the numerals 24 and 25. The back wall is denoted at 12, the side walls at 13, the front wall at 14 and the curvate top wall at 16, this providing a lid and being hingedly mounted at 17. It is provided at its free nited States Patent 9 2,839,346 Patented June 17, 1958 ICE end with a detent 18 held by a suitable spring latch 19, all as shown in Figure 2. The lower corner portions of the side walls are cut away as at 20 and cooperative with a finger notch 21 and freely turnable wooden or equivalent rollers 22 are mounted in spaced parallelism and horizontally between the side walls and serve to position and hold the lower roll 10 in a position for use of the strips of paper 23. Obviously, the lower roll rests on the rollers 22 in the manner shown.

The essence of the invention is in having the box sufficiently tall to provide the required upper and lower compartments 8 and 10 for the upper roll 24 and the lower roll 25 of paper.

The invention relates especially to the relatively narrow plate which constitutes a downwardly folding shelf and also a divider and this is denoted by the numeral 26 and is generally rectangular in form and has laterally bent cars 28 at its ends rockable on a fixed rod 30 which spans the compartment and is fixed in the side walls 13. Obviously, when this shelf is up it partly underlies the roll 24 and keeps it in the upper compartment 8. There is a trigger latch 32 provided and this as shown in Figure 5 has a shank 34 fixedly secured to an edge portion of a leaf-like trip plate 36. This trip plate is arranged in the lower compartment 10 and between the walls 13 and one end portion of the roll 25 as shown perhaps best in Figures 1 and 3. It is of any suitable shape and the upper end 38 is hingedly mounted on the adjacent side wall at the point shown and there is a hairpin-like spring provided and with one leg or limb fixed on the exterior of the wall as shown at 40 and the other leg 42 fixed to the trip plate 36. This spring urges the plate 36 to the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 and in dotted lines in Figure 2. A slot is provided in the last named side wall to accommodate the spring and hinge means. In any event, this spring pressed trip plate is disposed in the position shown and supports the trigger latch. The intermediate portion of the trigger latch is arcuately bent as at 44 and the upstanding portion 46 has a hook-like bend 48 which underlies a suitably bent end 50 on the hinged shelf.

When both rolls of toilet paper are in their respective compartments, 8 and 10, the spring means 40 presses the trip plate 36 to the position as shown in Figures 1 r and 2. In this position, the trigger latch is such that it underlies the end portion 50 of thedivider shelf 26 and keeps the shelf in its up position. When in the latter position the shelf 26 underlies the roll '24 of toilet paper and keeps it in the upper compartment 8. When the paper on the roll 25 has been completely used up and the cardboard hub 52 has been removed, the pressure is taken away from the trip plate 36, allowing it to swing inwardly to an inclined position and removing the supporting hook 48 from beneath the end portion 50and allowing the shelf to drop down. This functioning of the parts causes the upper roll 24 of toilet paper to drop and deposit itself in the lower compartment.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A box adapted to contain at least two progressively usable rolls of paper, an upper roll in readiness for use, and a lower roll which is adapted for current use and which, when it is exhausted, will be replenished by the upper roll, the relatively narrow horizontally disposed shelf having one longitudinal edge portion pivotally mounted on one of 'the walls of the box and projecting into the space of the 'box and dividing the box into upper and lower compartments, one for each roll of paper, said shelf being normally in an up position and providing the 'sole supporting means for the upper roll of paper and being lowered in part by the weight of the roll of paper and in partby the forces of gravity, a vertically disposed trip plate having its upper end hingedly mounted on'one wall of said box and depending into the lower compartment, said trip plate being spring biased and normally interposed between said one wall and an end portion of the roll of paper in the lower compartment and adapted to be acted 'on by the spring means and swung to a shelf-tripping position when the roll of paper iii 4 with which it is cooperating has been used up, and a trigger latch carried by and rising from and above the hinged upper end of said trip plate, said latch having its upper end releasably underlying and engaged with an end portion of said shelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,447,594 Mackrodt Mar. 6, 1923 2,299,301 Britt Oct. 20, 1942 2,605,975 Page Aug. 5, 1952 2,608,131 Pearce Aug. 26, 1952 

